Francis’ friend, Rabbi Skorka, has a dream

Argentinean rabbi Abraham Skorka talks about the proposition he made to the Pope a few months ago and about his wish to visit the Holy Land with him

Alver MetalliBuenos Aires

He wanted to be the one to write the preface to “El Jesuita”, the first biography-interview-turned-best-seller approved by the Latin American Pope: “As far as I know, it must be the first time in two thousand years that a rabbi writes the preface to a book written by a Catholic priest.” Skorka and Bergoglio discussed “On Heaven and Earth” (a transcription of conversations between Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio and Rabbi Abraham Skorka, held in 2010, Ed.) together together and they talked together about the Holy Bible for two years on Argentina’s Canale 21. Now that Pope Francis’ visit to the Holy Land has been officially confirmed - with Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal announcing it would be taking place in May 2014 - Argentinean rabbi Abraham Skorka’s dream is to accompany Francis.

Or perhaps he already knows for certain this is going to happen; the two had discussed the possibility on a number of occasions when Bergoglio, Skorka’s friend Bergoglio, was not yet Pope. “Various Jewish institutions asked me which Argentinean they could honour with a visit to the Holy Land and I always suggested Bergoglio.” The visit never materialised. “When he was elected Pope – Simon Peres had met him and I know they had both been struck by one another, Skorka says – the Israeli Presidency contacted me to let me know that Israel was very eager for him to visit.” It was 13 June and Rabbi Abraham Skorka was in Rome, waiting to see his old friend again but this time dressed in white. “I told him all this and he seemed to like the idea,” the rabbi says.

Then it was Benjamin Netanyahu’s turn. The invitation became official. Skorka saw the images of the Israeli prime minister’s meeting with the Pope on television. He e-mailed the Pope, as he often used to when his friend Bergoglio was still archbishop and continues to do so now his friend is Francis.”We are in touch and we still discuss life, politics and what is going on in the world...” Although Rabbi Skorka does not say so, he probably reminded Francis of a conversation they had last June, during which it was mentioned they might visit the Holy Land together.

Skorka is convinced that the Jewish people have found in Bergoglio, the best friend they have ever had on the Throne of St. Peter. “His frank, sincere, deep and moving dialogue with many Jews in Argentina, not just with me, is clear evidence of this. “This is now a history, not just single cases, a history of attention and respect.”

Fifty years have gone by since Paul VI’s historic visit to the Holy Land, which Francis would like to commemorate. Rabbi Skorka was 14 years old when Pope Montini stepped foot inside Israel but he remembers it as if it were yesterday. “My parents and grandparents were born in Poland,” Skorka recalls. “They experienced Christian anti-Semitism first hand; hunger and persecution were the two reasons they left. I have also always been aware that culture and the values of the Polish people had a lot in common with Christianity and that Christianity has its roots in Judaism. These are contradictory messages but this was partly what inspired me in the process of interreligious dialogue: when there is real, sincere and respectful recognition, we can work together to make the world a better place. What saddened me about Paul VI’s visit is that he was not able to go to Jerusalem which was divided at the time.” Pope Francis will get to go and Skorka would like to be with him at this historic moment. The rabbi also says he remembers John Paul II’s visit very clearly; It is still “fresh in my mind; it was quite something to see him there, standing for the Israeli national anthem.” Rabbi Skorka remembers that it was during John Paul II’s papacy that diplomatic relations between Israel and the Vatican resumed.

Benedict XVI’s visit took place at what was a very complicated time for the Middle East; it was unlikely he was going to have the same impact on the people and the government. “Ratzinger’s words are very profound, courageous and incredibly valuable, for example what he says in the opening chapter of his three-volume work on Jesus of Nazareth. This was structured like a Midrash from the Talmud ... I talked to Bergoglio about it,” he recalls. And now, even more is expected of his friend Bergloglio. People expect “a roar, the roaring words of a prophet who asks for justice for the suffering.” This “step forward will be taken thanks to Pope Francis’ ability to go straight to the heart of things,” Skorka says.

The pope is not frightened by the criticisms of traditionalists and conservatives, which are getting harsher and harsher. Traditionalists accuse him of modernism, the US Tea Party conservatives of Marxism. The former ask God to “enlighten and eliminate” him, whilst the latter appeal to governments to isolate him. We throw this question at Rabbi Skorka: Is the Pope at risk as an Italian judge said some time ago? Skorka pauses for a moment. The silence goes on. He asks if the question was referring to physical risks and then emphasises that “the Roman Catholic Apostolic Church needs to really, really look after him.”